What does it really mean when you dream about someone? Let's face it, our dreams can be perplexing — especially when we wake up and realise we've just had an epic dream about an unexpected person. These types of dreams can be jarring, especially when they involve a colleague, or that acquaintance you’ve only met a couple of times – or, even worse, your ex.
It's easy to jump to conclusions and to assume that your dream must mean you are hiding some dark secret deep in your subconscious. You may think that it’s your subconscious trying to tell you something, but science has found that it could actually be a way that your brain processes information.
“Scientists think that dreams are our brain’s way of dealing with emotional issues we face day to day and are useful for creativity and problem solving,” Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert at And So To Bed tells GLAMOUR. “Dreams may also be a way to practice for situations we might experience in the future.”
Dr Browning adds that the contents of our dreams might be less important that the emotion behind it. In other words, it's not always about the person, but more about exploring some unresolved emotions in your waking life.
“Think of dreaming sleep as free overnight therapy, since it is your brain’s way of understanding the world and processing anything difficult,” she says.
Look to the stars for a little insight on what's to come…
In terms of dreaming about a specific person, Eloise Skinner – a psychotherapist and author who specialises in existential therapy – says this may be an indication that this person is on our minds.
“[Dreaming about someone] might not be as personal or emotional as we initially think,” Skinner adds. “It could just be that this person is on our minds, or that we're processing an event or experience related to them.”
Plus, psychologist Dr Veronika Matutyte says dreaming about another person or people is incredibly common.
“It is important to note that our dreams often feature people we interact with regularly or hold emotional significance in our lives,” she explains. “The frequency of these dreams varies, but the act itself is a natural expression of our subconscious processing the complexities of our relationships and experiences.
“To properly analyse a dream, you need to keep a dream journal to track recurring themes, emotions and patterns. Additionally, reflect on your waking life experiences and emotions to better understand dream symbolism.”
Dreams are often more complicated than they may initially seem — just because you dream about someone you know, it doesn't mean that you actually want your relationship with that person to change. Instead, the dream may be a subconscious attempt to work through related emotions — regardless of who you're dreaming about.
However, there are certain things we can learn about ourselves when we start to notice who we are dreaming about. What exactly does it mean when you dream about a specific someone? Read on to find out.
When you dream about a… colleague
As awkward as dreaming about a colleague can be, Skinner says that these dreams are likely to be more practical.
“Perhaps we saw them earlier that day, or we tend to see them frequently throughout the day – or we're thinking about a big work project coming up, and they have some association with this,” she says.
Dr Matutyte says a dream about a co-worker can represent collaboration, teamwork, or show that your professional life is on your mind.
She adds: “Pay attention to the dynamics and feelings within the dream, as they might reflect your thoughts about work relationships or projects.”
They're your mind's way of trying to tell you something.
When you dream about a… friend
“Dreaming about a friend or ex-friend often mirrors aspects of your social connections and emotional bonds,” Dr Matutyte says. “Positive dreams may signify feelings of support, while challenging dreams may point to unresolved conflicts or changes in the relationship dynamic.”
Skinner adds that, if you find yourself dreaming about an ex-friend, you may be working through loss, grief, emotional instability, or uncertainty about the connection, or wondering how they are.
When you dream about a… partner
This is more likely to be practical, especially if you live with your other half and see them every day and sleep next to them each night. You may see that person as a form of security, which is why they could accompany you in your dreams.
When you dream about an… ex
No one wants to be dreaming about an ex, but these types of dreams could be telling on your subconscious.
“Dreams featuring ex-partners delve into your romantic and emotional world,” Dr Matutyte says. “They can signify longing, unresolved emotions, or reflections on the current state of your romantic life.”
When you dream about a… group of people
Whether it’s a group of friends, family members, acquaintances, or strangers – the ‘type’ of people you dream about could be telling.
“If it's a seemingly-random group of people, it might be interesting to see if you can see some consistencies or a theme emerging,” Skinner says. “Perhaps they're all people you associate with a certain emotion, quality or activity. Or, more simply, they could be a group of people you see in a similar way, and so you might process emotions related to the group as a whole.”
Dr Matutyte adds that dreaming about a group of people can be about social dynamics, acceptance, or conformity.
“Pay attention to the feelings and interactions within the dream to uncover insights into your social connections and sense of belonging,” she says.
When you dream about a… celebrity
I mean, who doesn’t want to be dreaming about Harry Styles? Dr Matutyte says dreaming about someone famous can symbolise aspirations, desires, or certain qualities you admire.
“Alternatively, it may represent a desire for recognition or validation in certain aspects of your life,” she adds.
Skinner says that it may also indicate that you are processing information related to your feelings about this specific person.
“For example, a politician could be related to anxiety about global events, or a self-help celebrity figure could be related to thoughts about your own wellbeing,” she explains.
When you dream about a… family member
“Dreams about family members, whether living or deceased, often carry deep emotional significance,” Dr Matutyte says. “They may reflect unresolved emotions, familial bonds, or your need for connection and support.”
Skinner adds that, as grief is a major experience to process, working through it can take much longer than we anticipate, which is why a beloved family member may pop up in our dreams from time to time.
When you dream about… your doctor
…or hairdresser, or nail tech, or dentist. Basically anyone who provides a service?
While it may mean that you are simply hankering for a new 'do or new set of gels, it might also be symbolic of another problem.
“You're probably hopeful of solving a problem and [hoping] somebody around you will help you with it,” says psychologist Wendy Dignan.
When you dream about… an old friend
As for dreaming about an old friend, this may be related to a desire for a safer network around you. According to Dignan, it indicates a “need for safe connections.” “The important distinction here is that they are an old friend and they have that history that we find very secure and very safe,” she adds.
When you dream about…a fictional character
Find yourself constantly dreaming about your favourite rom-com hero? Or a character from the book you're reading? While they may not be real themselves, there may be something in them that is very real for you.
“It often represents a part of yourself that you want to validate,” Dignan suggests. “So, a fictional character will be somebody that a part of their personality is something that maybe represents something that you are. Or maybe it's a part of them that you aspire to be more like.”
When you dream about…someone you passed in the street
This one's a little more unclear. According to Dignan, it all depends on what it was about them that you noticed. “What are the things you did or what you thought they did. It's about what things you're projecting onto them specifically," she says. "That's about your unconscious hopes and fears for yourself. It's either something you hope you're not or something you wish you were.”
When you dream about…someone in the news
And finally, what does it mean when we dream about someone we have been seeing on the news? “Again, it's about if they're famous, that's about your own aspirations for recognition," Dignan says. "What are your aspirations that you'd like to be recognised?”
The universe could be trying to tell you something.
